Electrical connector

Abstract

A connector is disclosed for making electrical connection between a wire and a cable in which the conductor of the cable is offfset from the center axis of the cable. The connector comprises a contact having a pointed spike on its front face which is offset from the center axis of the contact the same distance as the offset of the conductor of the cable so that the contact can be oriented with its axis concentric with the center axis of the cable, and the spike aligned with the conductor of the cable. The connector also includes a housing which is rotatable with respect to the contact, and has self-threading screw threads on its inner wall which threadedly engage the jacket of the cable to secure the contact against the end of the cable with the spike engaging the cable conductor. The screw threads provide a sealing enagement between the connector housing and the cable jacket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for connecting a wire to a cable having a conductor covered by a jacket with the conductor offset from the center axis of the cable a predetermined distance comprising: a contact having a front face adapted to abut the end of said cable, and a rear portion adapted to be connected to a wire;   a hollow insulative housing surrounding said contact and rotatable with respect to said contact;   a forward portion of said housing being formed with internal self-threading screw threads for making a threaded connection to the jacket of said cable; and   a pointed spike extending forwardly from said front face of said contact, said spike being offset from the center axis of said contact a distance corresponding to said predetermined distance, whereby said contact may be oriented so that said spike will engage the conductor of said cable when the housing is threaded onto said cable.   
     
     
       2. An electical connector asset forth in claim 1 wherein: said front face of said contact is flat and extends normal to said center axis of the contact.   
     
     
       3. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said spike is shaped as a right circular cone.   
     
     
       4. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said contact has a rearwardly facing annular shoulder thereon;   said housing has a forwardly facing annular shoulder thereon behind said contact shoulder; and   a sealing ring is positioned between said shoulders.   
     
     
       5. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said contact embodies relatively rigid forward and rear sections and an intermediate deformable section adapted to be crimped to a wire.   
     
     
       6. An electrical contact for connecting a wire to a cable having a conductor covered by a jacket with the conductor offset from the center axis of the cable a predetermined distance comprising: a contact body having a front face adapted to abut the end of said cable and a rear portion adapted to be connected to a wire;   a pointed spike extending forwardly from said front face of said contact body, said spike being offset from the center axis of said contact body a distance corresponding to said predetermined distance, whereby said contact body may be oriented with its center axis coaxial with the center axis of the cable, and with said spike positioned to engage the conductor of the cable; and   said contact body embodying relatively rigid forward and rear sections and an intermediate deformable section adapted to be crimped to a wire.   
     
     
       7. A cable assembly comprising: a cable having a conductor covered by a jacket with the conductor offset from the center axis of the cable a predetermined distance;   a connector attached to a wire to be connected to said cable conductor, said connector comprising: (i) a contact having a front face abutting the end of said cable, and a rear portion connected to said wire;   (ii) a hollow insulative housing surrounding said contact and rotatable with respect to said contact;   (iii) a forward portion of said housing being formed with internal self-threading screw threads having a threaded connection to said jacket of said cable; and   (iv) a pointed spike extending forwardly from said front face of said contact, said spike being offset from the center axis of said contact a distance corresponding to said predetermined distance, said contact being oriented so that said spike engages said conductor of said cable.     
     
     
       8. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said front face of said contact is flat and extends normal to said center axis of said contact.   
     
     
       9. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said spike is shaped as a right circular cone.   
     
     
       10. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said contact has a rearwardly facing annular shoulder thereon;   said housing has a forwardly facing annular shoulder thereon behind said contact shoulder; and   a sealing ring is compressed between said shoulders to deform the ring into sealing engagement with said wire.   
     
     
       11. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein; said contact embodies relatively rigid forward and rear sections and an intermediate deformable section crimped to said wire.   
     
     
       12. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: the end of said conductor is flush with said end of said cable.   
     
     
       13. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: the end of said conductor extends beyond and is bent over said end of said cable and is trapped between said end of said cable and said front face of said contact.   
     
     
       14. cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said conductor is a stranded wire; and   said spike extends into the interior of said stranded wire.   
     
     
       15. a cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said conductor is a solid wire; and   said spike extends along the outer surface of said wire.   
     
     
       16. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said cable has a web thereon integral with said jacket; and   said web having an edge spaced rearwardly from said end of said cable a predetermined distance such that the forward end of said housing will engage said edge when said front face of said contact abuts the end of said cable.   
     
     
       17. A cable assembly comprising: a cable having a single wire covered by an insulative jacket with the wire offset from the center axis of the cable a predetermined distance;   a contact having a flat front face normal to the center axis of said contact and abutting the end of said cable, and said contact having a rear portion connected to a conductor to be connected to said wire; and   a single pointed spike extending forwardly from said front face of said contact, said spike being offset from said center axis of said contact a distance corresponding to said predetermined distance, said contact being oriented so that said spike engages said wire of said cable.   
     
     
       18. A cable assembly as set forth in claim 17 including: coupling means on said contact directly engaging said jacket to hold said front face of said contact in abutment with said end of said cable.